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With less than a month to go before Expo 2020 Dubai opens to the public, stringent health precautions are being taken to ensure the site is safe for visitors despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
About 25 million visits are expected during the Expo, which stretches over 182 days with cultural shows and conferences taking place daily.
Representatives of countries participating in the Expo said the organisers have “relentlessly worked on sanitary and security measures” to make sure a visit to the World Expo is enjoyable and safe.
“For several months now, the organisers deployed unprecedented measures to guarantee everyone’s safety for the world to enjoy this international event,” Erik Linquier, commissioner general for the France Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai told The National.
A look at some of the measures at the site in Dubai.
What precautions will be in place on entry?
Thermal cameras at arrival points will check the temperature of visitors before they enter the site. Masks must be worn at all times in the outdoor areas and in all indoor settings.
How will safety rules be maintained inside the site?
Social distancing of at least two metres between people is required. All venues and common areas will be regularly cleaned and sanitised. Hand sanitiser stations are located throughout the site.
Will restaurants and pavilions follow safety guidelines?
Dining areas will keep tables distanced and maintain a pre-agreed seating capacity. Markings on the ground will indicate the distance between people when visiting exhibits, watching performances or unwinding in parks.
Do visitors need to be vaccinated to enter?
Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai will need to show evidence of a Covid-19 vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours. Officials also announced non-vaccinated ticket-holders who have not been tested within the 72-hour period can test at the PCR testing facility adjacent to the Expo 2020 site.
Are medical facilities available if visitors are unwell?
The Expo has three world-class medical and Covid-19 testing facilities. These will be operated by the Dubai Health Authority and will be open 24x7 and staffed by doctors and nurses. There will be on-site Expo ambulances. Anyone showing symptoms of Covid-19 will be referred to the DHA.
Where can visitors go if they feel ill?
If anyone feels ill or requires medical assistance, they can visit any one of seven first aid posts, the medical centres or ask Expo staff for help. The first aid posts are open all through the week. All staff are equipped to provide visitors with care in an emergency.
Are there storage units for medicines?
Medicines can be left at a first aid centre. The medication must be sealed and labelled with the name of the person. It must be collected at the end of the day. Any items left behind will be disposed of.
How will Expo staff keep safe?
Morning and evening inspections are being conducted on buses that transport workers to the site to ensure that Covid-19 precautionary measures are being followed. Deep cleaning and sanitation of all transport services before picking up staff and after drop-off. Expo 2020 maintains 25 per cent capacity in buses transporting workers. Open buffets have been suspended in accommodation areas.
AIDA%20RETURNS
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More Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions:
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Bournemouth 1 Manchester City 2
Watford 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Newcastle United 3 West Ham United 0
Huddersfield Town 0 Southampton 0
Crystal Palace 0 Swansea City 2
Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 Stoke City 1
Chelsea 2 Everton 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Burnley 1
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Williams at Wimbledon
Venus Williams - 5 titles (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008)
Serena Williams - 7 titles (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016)
Zayed Sustainability Prize
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Most F1 world titles
7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)
7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)
5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)
4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)
4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)
The National selections
Al Ain
5pm: Bolereau
5.30pm: Rich And Famous
6pm: Duc De Faust
6.30pm: Al Thoura
7pm: AF Arrab
7.30pm: Al Jazi
8pm: Futoon
Jebel Ali
1.45pm: AF Kal Noor
2.15pm: Galaxy Road
2.45pm: Dark Thunder
3.15pm: Inverleigh
3.45pm: Bawaasil
4.15pm: Initial
4.45pm: Tafaakhor
Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
THE%20SWIMMERS
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
FIGHT%20CARD
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